Love, show gratitude, and play with your pets every day
In the wild, dogs and cats divide their day between sleep/naps, hunting/eating, and playing. Domestic animals rely on their owners for their mental stimulation and exercise. Just like a child, play time should be a time for your pet to learn new things and create a deeper bond with you. This time is crucial to a happy and healthy pet. It can also prevent bad habits from developing due to being bored or having excess energy pent up. How much play time is required? Well, that depends on your pet (obviously a kitten or puppy might have more energy to play longer than an elder pet) and the bond you want to create with your pet. The more time you spend with them the deeper the bond can become, but you also don't want your pet to develop anxiety when you are not around. I discussed remedies for separation anxiety in "Bad Habits/Behaviours." Usually, animals are happy to have any time with their owner, but they should exercise at least an hour a day (unless they have specific health concerns which restrict activity, then follow your vet's recommendations). This does not have to be hard exercise, but running while they play Frisbee or with the feather duster is a great activity for most pets; a gentle walk with your dog would also be an excellent activity. Overall, have fun and know your pet's activity level. If they get tired, give them a rest. It is also best to exercise before they eat, or an hour after they have eaten to give time for their food to digest before running around. Some deep chested dogs, like Boxers, Great Danes, or English and Bull Mastiffs, are more susceptible to stomach or spleen torsions (flips and twists) than other breeds. The risk of these potentially fatal twists increases during extreme activity such as jumping. Please keep this in mind when exercising your pet.